>> Monday, July 30, 2012

By Charlie Lagasca

TUGUEGARAO CITY -- The vice mayor of Tuguegarao City, the capital
of Cagayan province, and five policemen have been charged with multiple murder
before the Office of the Ombudsman for the killing of five suspected
guns-for-hire last May.

The
Commission on Human Rights-Cagayan Valley, which assisted the victims’ families
in filing the case, identified among those charged as Vice Mayor Danilo Baccay
and Senior Supt. Alexander Rafael, Abra police director.

Also
included in the complaint sheet of five counts of murder, grave misconduct and
grave abuse of authority as well as incriminating an innocent person are four
Cagayan policemen identified only as John Does.

“The John
Does, who are (Rafael’s) former subordinates, are allegedly assigned at the
Regional Intelligence Unit (at the) police regional office (in) Tuguegarao
City,” said the CHR, adding that they served as Rafael’s escorts when the
killing took place.

The CHR
said its findings show there was a probable cause to indict the suspects in the
killing of Leonard Apolonio, Daniel Villamor, NomerBiendima, Isabelo Bernal and
Michael Bermudez, all from Abra, who police had tagged as members of a
gun-for-hire group.

Baccay was
linked to the killing after he was found to own one of the firearms found in
the crime scene.

In earlier
reports, he admitted owning the gun but claimed that he had lost it.

Earlier,
the regional police based in Tuguegarao City said the killing was the result of
a legitimate shootout with Rafael’s group along the Maharlika Highway in
Barangay San Lorenzo, Lallo town last May 1.

Rafael
claimed then that the slain suspects aboard a Toyota Corona had tailed them
while they were on their way to his hometown in Cagayan from Ilocos Sur.

His group,
he said, was only forced to fire back at the suspects after they refused to
stop when they were flagged down.

The CHR,
however, said, “There is no argument as to the fact that the victims were
killed by police Senior Superintendent Alexander Rafael and four unidentified
police officers from the Intelligence Division of Police Regional Office No.
02.”

“From the
number of gunshots found in the (victims’) vehicle, one cannot help but
describe it as overkill... The (victims’) vehicle was surrounded by the police
involved, who then indiscriminately fired upon said vehicle,” the CHR said in
its report.

The CHR
said the victims could be even “part of the convoy of no less than respondent
police director Alexander Rafael.”

The CHR
conducted its own investigation after the victims’ families expressed suspicion
that the incident was a case of rubout and not a legitimate shootout, as the
police claimed.

Earlier,
Chief Supt. Rodrigo de Gracia, Cagayan Valley police director, said one of the
slain suspects was earlier apprehended by the Abra police and supposedly
confessed their supposed illegal activities in Cagayan, including a plot to
assassinate several prominent politicians in the province.

Gaspar said Barangay Cato Barangay Chairman Charlito Maniago
reported that the eight fishermen have not returned since July 17.

Gaspar clarified that the fishermen have not been officially
listed as missing since fishermen are normally out at sea for seven to 15 days.

“However, we dispatched immediately our rescue team aboard the
boat "Habagat" upon learning the information to monitor the location
of these fishermen for possible rescue operation if necessary,” he said.

Gaspar said that intensified rescue operations are continuing for
two missing fishermen from Bolinao, Pangasinan.

The two were with four other fishermen: Paron Caampued Sr., 40, and
his son Paron Caampued Jr.; Teodorico Caampued, 60, and his nephew Robinson Cezo,
50, who were in three motorized boats and who headed out to sea on July 20
despite gale warnings raised by the weather agency and Coast Guard beacuse
Tropical Storm “Ferdie.

ParonCaampued Sr. and his son were rescued by a passing oil tanker
last week while TeodricoCaampued and Cezo were rescued by lawmen at the
shoreline of Barangay Pantoc, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.

BAGUIO CITY -- The Bases Conversion and Development Authority
(BCDA) welcomed the decision of the Baguio regional trial court (RTC) ordering
the Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) to post a P736-million bond to
put in effect the writ of preliminary injunction filed by the John Hay lessee.

With the order, the court rejected the P31-million offer made by
CJHDevCo to prevent a government takeover of its leased properties in Camp John
Hay, and upheld the original amount of the bond to protect government’s
interest.

In a statement, BCDA president and CEO ArnelPaciano Casanova said
the court order simply confirmed the validity of the arbitration clause in the
contract and directs both parties to observe this, and never touched on the
merits of the case.

“The arbitration clause in our contract does not in any way
impinge upon or prevent the BCDA from exercising its rights,” Casanova said.

He added there is nothing in the court order that says the BCDA
cannot exercise its remedies under the contract and existing laws.

But CJHDevCo yesterday asked the BCDA to comply with the court
order to submit itself to arbitration and abandon its plan to take over the
Camp John Hay.

Lawyer Manuel Ubarra Jr., CJHDevCo spokesman, said the BCDA, being
a state-run firm, must comply with the court order on arbitration to settle all
the disputes on the developer’s lease payment involving the development of the
247-hectare former American rest and recreation
hub.

CJHDevCo also questioned the reported bid of the BCDA to collect
payments from locators and sub-lessees in its 247-hectare leased property.

TUBA, Benguet – This town and that of nearby
Itogon are now engaged in a dispute on where millions of taxes of a mining firm
should be remitted.

This has prompted Philex Mining Corp. to
deposi around P29 million in escrow to
convince municipal officials of Tuba and Itogon to immediately settle
their boundary conflict and avail of
benefits of contested business taxes be paid by the company.

Engineer
Libby Ricafort, Philex vice president for operations and resident manager, said
the P29 million escrow account represented business taxes supposed to be paid
by the firm to whichever local government exclusive of export taxes for 2011
alone.

“We want to settle whatever are our
obligations with our host and neighboring communities in a bid to boost our
desire to sustain our image as an
international mining company,” Ricafort said.

She added municipal officials of Itogon and
Tuba were informed about the escrow account which could be withdrawn anytime
provided that there will be a clear cut agreement among the contending parties.

According
to Ricafort, contested business taxes will be deposited in the escrow account
opened by the mining company until both municipalities decide how they will
share the business taxes considering that part of Philex’s operations are also
located in Itogon.

However, lawyer Eduardo Aratas, Philex’s
legal division chief, said the business taxes being contested by the two
municipalities prior to 2011 are still being reviewed by the company’s legal
experts to determine the validity of the hundreds of millions of pesos imposed
by the two local governments on the current mining operations.

Earlier,
Tuba and Itogon officials agreed to a 50-50 split on the business taxes
supposed to be paid by the mining company covering its operations being claimed
by the two municipalities.

“We are still in the process of assessing and
evaluating the legal basis of the claims of the two local governments on the
previous business taxes they have levied on our mining operations,” Aratas
said.

He added they are now caught in the middle of
the fight considering that both Tuba and Itogon already came out with their
separate stands on the matter, each demanding a 100 percent remittance by the
mining company of its business tax due to either of the local governments.

Philex has
been operating its Padcal mine over the past 54 years and has a projected mine
life until year 2020.

“Both local governments must decisively act
on how they will share the business taxes that we have already placed and will
be placing in the escrow account so that they will be able to generate more
funds to implement their development projects and enhance the delivery of the
basic services to their constituents,” Aratas said.

He noted accumulated business taxes being
claimed by the two municipalities are separate from the corporate social
responsibility and social development management projects being funded by the
company and implemented in the different host and neighboring communities of
the company every year.

Barangays
Camp 3 in Tuba and Ampucao in Itogon are claiming parts of the areas of
operation of Philex Mining Corporation are located within their respective
areas of jurisdiction, thus, they deserve a share from the taxes being paid by
the company to the local governments.

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat has
expressed disappointment that President Aquino did not mention Indigenous
Peoples (IPs) in his third State of the Nation Address on July 23 but despite
this, he said, there were many good points in the President’s speech.

“There was no mention of
the government’s agenda for IPs, or even just a specific program. Clearly, I
still have to work on educating government officials on the IP worldview, their
situation and the rights that we are fighting for,” said Baguilat, who also
chairs the House committee on national cultural communities.

“Also, Malacanang does
not seem to know about the human rights situation. It is getting worse, and a
number of the victims are either IPs or civil society leaders fighting for IP
rights,” added Baguilat.

He, however, said there
were many good points raised by President Aquino in his SONA, particularly his
mention of the need for responsible parenthood, and his directive for Congress
to pass a new mining law that would raise revenues and protect the environment.

Baguilat has put forward
an “alternative minerals management bill” that seeks to amend the Philippine
Mining Act of 1995 to make it more equitable to the people who will be directly
affected by the mining projects.

He was also heartened by
the renewed thrust to grow the agriculture and tourism sectors, which are high
on his development agenda for Ifugao, which was cited for its efforts to
preserve the world-famous rice terraces.

Recently, the Ifugao
Rice Terraces was removed from the list of endangered World Heritage Sites by
Unesco because of multi-sectoral efforts to preserve the centuries-old,
hand-carved rice terraces.

“I am glad that Ifugao
was cited in the report on tourism. If President Aquino can accomplish the
promise of 10 million tourist arrivals and then rice self-sufficiency by the
end of his term, this would democratize the growth that he is talking about
because agriculture and tourism growth is more inclusive,” he said.

“We are willing to help President Aquino meet
his goals in tourism, agriculture and education through the budget process,”
added Baguilat.

PANTABANGAN, Nueva Ecija -- Subsidiary of Lopez-led power producer First Gen
Corp. has stopped supplying electricity to a power distribution firm of this
town.

The disconnection resulted from the municipal government’s
non-payment of more than P80 million in electricity bills since 2008, the
company said.

In a statement, First Gen Hydro Power Corp. (FGHPC), which owns
and operates the 132-megawatt (MW) Pantabangan-Masiway hydroelectric complex,
said it cut off the power supply to Pantabangan Municipal Electric Services
(PAMES) on Monday afternoon.

The FGHPC said PAMES failed anew to honor its obligations under
the terms of a restructuring agreement last March 16 to settle more than P80
million in debts.

The amount represents the unpaid power bills of PAMES since 2008.

“We have been negotiating with PAMES since they ran first into
arrears in 2007,” First Gen vice president Dennis Gonzales said in a text
message.

“We have continued supplying to them despite their continuing
non-payment, and the expiry of the power supply contract since December 2008,
primarily out of concern for the residents of Pantabangan and other PAMES
consumers,” he added.

If it
succeeds in its cityhood bid in the Aug. 11 plebiscite, Ilagan will become
Cagayan Valley’s fourth city after Santiago City and Cauayan City, also both in
Isabela; and Tuguegarao City, the capital of Cagayan.

Earlier, a
gun ban was imposed throughout Ilagan, one of the country’s biggest towns in
terms of land area, from July 11 to Aug. 16, under Commission on Elections
Resolution 9495.

Ilagan
Mayor Jose Marie Diaz said this time they are confident that their constituents
will rally behind the cityhood of Ilagan, whose first attempt in 1988 was
frustrated as residents feared increases in taxes and prices of commodities.

The town
leadership assured residents that tax hikes would not be imposed for five years
once the cityhood bid succeeds.

“We do not
want our constituents to be immediately burdened by new taxes once we become a
city,” said Diaz, who looms to become the first mayor of Ilagan as a city.

The town’s
cityhood bid earlier got further boost after the provincial leadership led by
Gov. Faustino Dy III and Vice Gov. Rodito Albano, expressed all-out support for
the town’s conversion into a city.

BAGUIO
CITY -- A developer of Camp John Hay here insisted on its P8.5-billion offer of
lease rental payment to the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA),
denying claims it was delaying payment of its obligations.

The
Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) took exception to the statement of
BCDA president Arnel Paciano Casanova that the offer was a mere attempt to
delay payment of its P3-billion rental dues.

CJHDevCo
spokesman and lawyer Manuel Ubarra Jr. said the BCDA head’s interpretation of
their offer was “erroneous” and only “proved the undeserved prejudice and
discrimination of the Board of BCDA against CJHDevCo.”

“If
he (Casanova) bothered to listen first to the proposal, it contained an offer
of payment of P150 million upon the approval in writing of
the proposal and another P350 million in the next 12 months. That’s a total of
P500 million for the government and the city of Baguio if only BCDA bothered to
listen first to the proposal,” he told reporters in Manila.

Ubarra
said the BCDA was making a big issue out of the rental payments as an excuse to
cancel its lease agreement with CJHDevCo.

“BCDA
wants to remove CJHDevCo even before the expiration of the lease period and
either runs by itself the businesses established by the blood and sweat of
officers and employees of CJHDevCo or award it to another entity. Any way you
look at it, public good is not served,” Ubarra said.

The
developer’s offer was made last May when BCDA chairman FelicitoPayumo expressed
willingness to accept the offer and even invited the developer’s
representatives to present the proposal to the BCDA board.

VIGAN CITY — Livestock raisers from
Region 1 have expressed full support to the move of the Department of
Agriculture to exclude their products as “bargaining chip” in negotiating with
the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the three-year extension of the country’s
quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice import.

Swine Development Council convenor
and Abono Party-list group’s chairman Rosendo So stressed that the inclusion of
the livestock and poultry products as bargaining chip for the QR’s negotiation
for extension on rice import would probably make a too low tariff on their
products which would be detrimental to the industry.

According to So, the livestock and
poultry sectors represent 25 percent of the country’s agriculture, with a
combined production value of P320 billion annually.

In the past, the livestock and
poultry sectors were used as bargaining chips by the government in negotiating
for an extension on the quantitative restriction on rice in which tariff on
livestock and poultry products were made too low causing the increase on
importation of meat products in the local markets. Livelihood, jobs and
government revenues were lost because of the low tariff on the livestock and
poultry products.

This time, Agriculture Secretary
Proceso Alcala has assured that the interest of the local livestock and poultry
producers will not be sacrificed when the Philippines renegotiates for the
extension of the qualitative restriction on rice.

“We expressed our utmost thanks to
our Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala on his verbal assurance that the
livestock and poultry sectors will not be used as bargaining chips in the
renegotiation for another extension on the quantitative restriction for rice,”
So said.

“We extend our hand of support in
your quest to uplift the lives of the people in the agricultural sector,” So
added. .

The Philippines is currently in
talks with the WTO for the extension on limits on the importation of rice,
which have been enjoyed by country since June 2006.

BANGUED,
Abra – Philippine National Police chief Director-General Nicanor A. Bartolome
ordered regional, provincial, city and municipal police officials to reassess their
strategies in curbing proliferation of loose firearms in their areas and adapt a
diplomatic way of convincing illegal gun holders to surrender their firearms for
peaceful and orderly elections in May 2013.

Bartolome,
together with Director Samuel B. Diciano of the Directorate for Operations and
Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo, Jr., witnessed
the successful turnover of around 40 licensed firearms and 10 unlicensed guns
by 16 incumbent and former Abra provincial, municipal and barangays officials
during simple turnover ceremonies held at the Abra provincial police office
grounds here a few days ago.

“We
are lucky that the system we adapted in Abra was successful. It is just the
beginning of our long journey towards convincing people to turnover their
firearms, licensed or unlicensed to the police in order to achieve peace in
certain conflict areas,” Bartolome told the media.

He
added the strategy employed by the
Police Regional Office in the Cordillera in convincing Abra politicians to
surrender their guns will be replicated in other conflict areas in the country
which he declined to identify pending the conduct of evaluation, validation and
assessment by the PNP.

“We
will be adopting varying strategies in identified election conflict areas so
that we will be able to save on time and resources in pursuing individuals with
unlicensed firearms who are considered threats to our peace and order
campaign,” he said.

“The
PNP is inclined to make next year’s elections the most peaceful and orderly
political exercise in the country’s history.It is time to focus our attention
to other identified election conflict areas in the different parts of the
country.”

He
added police officials assigned in different parts of the archipelago must be
willing to innovate on strategies and systems being implemented.

“Before
we will conduct aggressive police operations just to confiscate the unlicensed
firearms that are scattered in various communities, we will still dialogue and
consult with our local leaders in order to convince them that surrendering
their licensed and unlicensed guns is still the best solution in sustaining our
peace and order campaign,” Bartolome stressed.

According
to him, the successful implementation of the diplomatic approach in Abra shows
“there is still a chance for the province to achieve lasting peace
provided local officials and the people
work together towards a common goal instead of waging war against each other.”He
said the PNP will be simultaneously implementing the diplomatic approach in
their areas of jurisdiction in the coming weeks so that more licensed and
unlicensed guns will be surrendered before the campaign period for the May 2013
elections.

BANAUE, Ifugao – ShoeMart (SM) has joined the movement called Cordillera
Heritage Weekend Warrior Caravan Run to restore the Banaue Rice Terraces, which
was recently restored as world heritage.

SM was the latest among companies nationwide
to signify intention to preserve and protect the over 2,000-year old
stairway-like rice paddies from eventual extinction.

The caravan was initiated by the Philippine
Tour Operators Association and photographer John Chua with Canon Philippines
and other corporate entity volunteers dubbed as “weekend warriors.”

Along with the other environment
conservationists, the SM team, led by SM Cares Yes Tourism committee assistant
program director Nona Reyes, SM Baguio Manager Marc Janssen Pe, and SM Baguio
Public Relations Manager Karren Padilla, were in Batad, Banaue, Ifugao recently
to help rebuild parts of the Batad rice terraces and extend school and
community works to the residents.

“The growing corporate social responsibility
projects being done by various corporations in the rice terraces areas has
greatly helped in awakening the Ifugao youth to work for the preservation and
protection of our identified heritage sites,” Gov. Eugene Balitang said after
receiving numerous commitments from multinational corporations planning to help
rebuild the damaged rice terraces.

Farming tools and other equipment were turned
over by the SM Prime Holdings team to the local government of Ifugao for the
use of farmers in their restoration efforts.

Padilla said this is the second time that SM,
through its corporate social responsibility program, joined the movement, with
Chua being a long time corporate partner starting with the company’s project
for people with disabilities, among other SM’s CSR programs.

In Feb. 3, SM joined Canon Phils., environment
groups, the Ifugao government and residents in the launching of “Banchang”
(bayahihan) in Batad.

Reyes said the partnership with the noted
photographer and other individuals and groups for the preservation of heritage
sites like the Banaue terraces gave them the opportunity to enhance their
programs that support tourism.

“We believe heritage sites can help spur
tourism,” Reyes said, adding that Ifugao has been an eco-tourism site over the
past several decades and had lured the influx of tens of thousands of foreign
and domestic tourists to visit the scenic and historic rice terraces in the
different parts of the province.

They will be again collaborating with Philtoa
which will feature UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Ifugao, during the
23rd Philippine Travel Mart, the largest annual tourism expo in the country on
Aug. 10 to 12 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, set to boost the DOT
campaign for sustainable tourism.

Earlier, the Laguna-based Toshiba Electronics
Company also adopted portions of the Batad rice terraces and donated funds and
farming equipment to the farmers which will be used to further improve their
production of the famous “tinawon” native rice and help sustain native rice
production as the major source of income of residents in the said place.

BAGUIO CITY – Cordillera
leaders urged support to creation of the autonomous region through a manifesto
of joint support for passage of House Bill 5595 and Senate Bill 3115 that seeks
to establish an autonomous region in the Cordillera signed during the 25th
Cordillera Day celebration last July 15.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan
said majority of the governors, vice governors, mayors and vice mayors of the
76 towns, six provinces and two cities signed the
manifesto which also urged President Benigno S. Aquino III to certify the said
bills as urgent measures to speed up their approval.

“We resolutely and
steadfastly believe that Autonomy provides for us the opportunity to exercise
our fundamental and Constitutional right to self-determination and allow us to
defend, protect, conserve and develop our patrimony and cultural heritage, in
order to secure for ourselves and our posterity a region of peace and
prosperity founded on truth, freedom, justice, love and human solidarity
through a Regional Autonomous Government that shall ensure our human rights,
our human development, economic growth and our active participation as citizens
in the affairs of a united Philippine State,” the manifesto stated.

During the foundation
day program held at the Baguio Convention Center, Cordillera officials led by
Domogan, Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan, Apayao Rep. Eleanor Begtang and Gov.
Elias Bulut Jr., Ifugao Gov. Eugene Balitang, Mountain Province Gov. Leonard Mayaen, Kalinga Acting Gov. Allen Jesse
Mangaoang and Tabuk City Mayor FerdinanceTubban echoed the content of the
manifesto and exhorted Cordillerans to unite for the realization of the
aspiration for self-rule and self-determination.

Domogan said it is high
time for the Cordillera region to establish a permanent regional identity where
it will have freedom to manage its people and natural resources, enjoy more
financial benefits from the national government while retaining the existing
benefits and powers presently being enjoyed.

The rest of the speakers
conveyed their desire to achieve regional autonomy to preserve Cordillera’s
unique culture and enjoy all the socio-economic and political benefits deserved
by an autonomous region.

One of the highlights of
the CAR anniversary activities which centered on the theme “Looking Back with
Pride, Moving Forward with Hope,” was the beating of the “unity gong” to
showcase the region’s oneness in said aspiration.

The unity gong was
turned over to the city officials by Apayao leaders in ceremonies last July
14. Baguio was the last seat in the Cordillera Unity and Peace Relay
ceremonies which fired off in Mt. Province last May 28 to drumbeat the call for
support to autonomy in the cities and provinces comprising the CAR. Each
of the provinces and cities had their chance to host the gong during the relay
with Baguio as the final destination.

LINGAYEN,
Pangasinan — Two natives of this province were included in the 2012 Search For
The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers
(TOPS) conducted by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. and the Rotary Club of Makati Metro.

Gov. Amado
T. Espino Jr. said Aniceto M. Sobrepeña, president of Metrobank Foundation,
Inc. congratulated him following the selection of Col. Raul J. Tangco, who was
born in Bayambang, and Sr. Master Sgt. Augusto D. Reyes who was born in San
Quintin, as among the outstanding soldiers.

Tangco was
selected under the Technical and Administrative Service-Corps of Professors
Category.

He is the
Dean of Academics of the Academic Group of the Philippine Military Academy
(PMA).

MALIBCONG, Abra -- Two communist rebels voluntarily surrendered to
authorities without firearms on July 21 through initiative of Mayor
BenidoBacuyag.

A police report identified the surrenderees as
Robert/BattilongGiawan aka “Nardo/Philip,” 22, of Putol, Mataragan,
of this town and Salcedo D. DappayJr aka “Ron-Ron,” 21,of Bao-yan in
Boliney town.

The report said Giawan was vice team leader of the communist youth
movement in the area after he joined the group in January 2004.

Dappay was reportedly supply officer of the same group since 2010.

Both were under local communist leader Flores Baluga in the
province.

Both, now under custody of provincial police, earlier surrendered
to Malibcong and provincial office 503rd Brigade of the Philippine Army ,
41st Infantry Brigade and Intelligence Service of the military.

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor
Mauricio Domogan last week issued Administrative Order 87, s. of 2012 for the
creation of a monitoring team to implement the “Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of
2007.”

The mayor heads the
monitoring team with Vice-Mayor Daniel Farinas as Vice-Chairman and Action
Officer.

Members of the team
include City Engineer Leo Bernardez, Jr., City Human Resource Management
Officer Dr. Estrella Bisquera, Ph.D., City Administrator Atty. Carlos Canilao,
General Service Officer Romeo Concio, City building Officer Engr. Oscar Flores,
Asst. City Assessor Nilda Navarro, and Asst. Alicia Onoza. Several employees of
the Human Resource Office serves as secretariat.

The ARTA monitoring
team shall work to determine methods for a hundred percent (100%)
implementation of said anti-red tape act in the city government

The team shall
conduct on-the spot monitoring of the department/offices of the local
government.

The monitoring team
shall also compel all offices to comply with all requirements of the ARTA. A
citizen’s charter should be posted, “No Noon Break and the presence of a public
assistance and complaints desk.

The action officer
of the team shall convene as soon as possible to act accordingly in the
discharge of its functions.

Republic Act 9485,
the “Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007,” was enacted to improve efficiency of
government service to the public. The reduction of bureaucratic red tape and
prevention of graft and corruption is the main purpose of the RA.

Earlier, the Civil
Service commission conducted an ARTA watch in several departments of the local
government of Baguio, wherein unfavorable observations were reported. With the
notations, the ARTA monitoring team was deemed a need.

SAN QUINTIN, Abra – Two men who reportedly tried to assassinate a
barangay captain here night of July 20 were nabbed by village watchmen and
police the next day.

A police report identified the suspects as Hardy B. De La Paz 31,
farmer, of Layugan, Bucay town and

Marvin B. Lizardo, 26 of Talaytay, Palang in San Quintin
town.

The report said the slay try was perpetrated against Reynaldo R.
Batoon, village chief of Barangay Palang of this town.

San Quintin town police chief Insp. Gregorio Kiwalan, said he
immediately alerted neighboring municipal police stations and organized
barangay tanods around the area after the incident was reported to him.

Investigation disclosed the victim who escaped unhurt was shot
several times by unidentified suspects at that time who evaded arrest fleeing
towards the direction of Mabungtot in Langiden town.

Three spent shells from a Cal.45 were recovered from the crime
scene.

An operation was launched which resulted to the arrest of the two
suspects.

De La Paz was positively identified by the Batoon as the same
person who shot him.

Confiscated from De La Paz was a Cal.45 pistol with a magazine and
two bullets.

During interrogation, De La Paz pointed to Lizardo as
his contact person.

A police report said 23 Victor
Ganongan Bakidan, 29, farmer of Ammasian, Pinukpuk, Kalinga at Lenneng
was arrested July 23 in Kabugao town.

A warrant for his arrested was earlier issued by Judge Quirino
Andaya of Regional Trial Court Branch 26, Luna, Apayao for three counts of
rape.

Bakidan is now under the custody of Kabugao police.

Another person wanted for rape was arrested in Sagada, Mountain
Province by combined elements of Sagada police led by Seinor Insp. Ruben M.
Labutan and Baguio cops led by Benedict K. Del-ong on July 23.

The suspect was identified as Antonio M. Domin-eng, 36, married of Barangay Aguid in the tourist
town.

He was arrested inside his residence following a warrant for his
arrest issued by Mia Joy C. Oallares-Cawed, presiding judge of RTC, First
Judicial Region, Branch IV, Baguio City.

A police report said Domin-eng went into hiding after learning he
was charged for rape allegedly committed in Baguio City.

He was detained at the Sagada police station and was due to be
brought to Baguio where his case would be heard by the court.